Hydro-safety craft



April 11,151

A. P. WELSH HYDRO SAFETY CRAFT Filed June 23, 1957 5 Sheets-.-Sheet l RFIIII INVENTOR ATTORNEYS April 11, 1939. A. P. WELSH HYDRO SAFETY CRAFT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23, 1957 I $420, 01? Vllsk ATTORNEYS Wgmsss April 11, 1939. L H 2,154,191

HYDRO SAFETY CRAFT Filed June 25, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 BY myw ATTORNEYS WITNESS April 11, .1939.

A. P. WELSH HYDRO SAFETY CRAFT Filed June 25. 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS WITNESS April 11, 1939. A. P. WELSH 2,154,191

v HYDRO SAFETY CRAFT V Filed June 23, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IOI . lo! -IIIIIIII INVENTOR WITNESS ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 11 1939 HYDRO-SAFETY CRAFT Alonzo P. Welsh, Tyler, Tex., assignor of onethird to Elizabeth R. Welsh, Springfield.

Ohio

Application June 23, 1937, Serial No. 149,992

. Claims.

The invention relatesv to a water craft and more especially to a hydro-safety craft. The primary object of the invention is the provision of a craft in the form of a boat of this 5 character, wherein in its creation there is assured maximum safety, comfort and speed and-affording increased pressure in water navigation, the craft or boat being useful for lifeboats'or other vessels, particularly at life saving stations where safety and speed are essential and also is adaptable for 'water sports and racing as well as for service for hunters and fishermen, being shallow floating and silent running. Another object of the invention is the provision of a craft of this character, wherein the construction renders it practically indestructible and unsinkable, permits of passengers sitting in a a low comfortable forward position, the seats being adjustable with backs and such craft is sus- 2o ceptible for forward or reverse motion and is 'hand propelled and includes an anti-drift arrangement which gives the operator complete control under all conditions during navigation.

A further object of the invention'is the pro- 1 vision of a craft of this character, wherein the propelling mechanism involves an anti-dead center arrangement so as-to avoid the propulsion mechanism from stopping on dead center, the said propelling mechanism being located in the 30 bow of the'craft to insure equal flotation and to have such mechanism visible to the operator for proper care and adjustment.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a craft of this character, which is 5 simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and efficacious in its operation, practically silent in theworking of the power unit, susceptible of making sharp right angular turns in the water and also counteracting side drift either through water currents or wind and thus enabling parallel landing with ease, the pontoons of the craft being protected against obstructions in the water away of a. boat or craft constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view looking toward thebow end of the boat or craft.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional 5 view through the craft or boat.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view taken through the fore or bow end of the said craft or boat. I

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing in detail the steering mechanism for the craft or boat.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the driving mechanism and adjuncts of the craft or boat.

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view thereof.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan view partly in section of certain adjuncts of the craft.

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 but taken at a different area of the craft or boat.

Figure 10 is a front elevation partly in section through the driving'partsof the craft.

Figure 11 is an elevation of certain gearing connections of said driving parts. i 26 Figure 12 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view through one of the pontoons of. the craft or boat.

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional view through an end awning of the canopy for the craft or boat.

Figure 14 is a front elevationrof the canopy with the end awning raised.

Figure 15 is a fragmentary front elevation of the craft or boat.

Figure 16 is a diagrammatic top plan view 86 showing the anti-drift adjustment-and the steering mechanism for controlling the craft or boat for avoiding side drive through force of side currents of thewater.

Similar reference characters indicate correso sponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings. I

Referring to the drawings in detail, the craft or boat comprises a main frame A including spaced parallel open side members I 0 and fore,- aft 46 and intermediate transverse or cross members I I, respectively, these being preferably made from tubular sections or pipes to give rigidity and strength throughout the entire extent of 4 the frame and are joined in any suitable manner. 50 Carried by the frame A is a corrugated sheet metal flooring I2 and rising vertically from this frame are uprights I 3 formed with bows I l joined with a canopy frame I5 for a canopy I 6, the latter having associated both fore and aft of the craft l5 or boat or at opposite ends ofsaid canopy awnings l1, these being vertically swung to raised or loweredpositions in any desirable manner.

The uprights l3 have joined therewith above the side members l8 side guard rails [8 which are continued from the bow to the stern of the craft orboat while between the uprights braces, I9 are provided for the said side guard rails l8. In association with the rails I8 is side paneling l9.- These rails I 8 provide seat tracks upon which are slidably fitted adjustable seats 28 of any desired number, each being. equipped with a bottom cushion 2| and a back 22, respectively. Each seat 28 may be adjustably secured in a fixed position in any. suitable manner. The seat tracks constituted by the guardrails l8 are preferably positioned low to give 10w seating position'to the occupants of the seats in the use of the craft or boat.

Suitably joined with the foreand intermediate transverse or cross members H and arranged at the longitudinal median ofthe frame A between the side members l8 thereof is a forwardly directed chassis 28 supporting a front rudder 24 while a rear rudder 25 is supported by the aft transverse or cross member I. These rudders 24' and 25 are providedwith turning posts 26 vertically journaled at 21 and coacting with each post 26 is a coiled compression spring 28 permitting vertically yielding of the said post should the rudder meet an obstruction ,in the water when the craft is navigating and in. this fashion avoiding damage to said rudder.

The posts 26 have fixed thereto cranks 29 to which are loosely connected throw rods 38 and 3|, respectively, these being eccentrically'pi voted' to a throw segment 32 turnable on' a pivot 33 upon a shift bracket or slide 34- having at one end a cross head '35 slidable upon spaced parallel guide rods 36,- these being joined with and a part of the frame A being forwardly inclined. from a riser yoke 31. immediately forward of an upright or perpendicular dash .38 built in the said frame A, the pivotal connections of the rods 38 and 3| with the segment 32 are located at opposite sides of its rotary axisconstituted by the pivot 33.

therefor. The segment 32 is formed with peripheral gear teeth 39 disposed in a circular path and. meshing with a gear 48 fixed to a sleeve 4| on a steering post 42, the latter being carried through coupling eyes 43 and 44, respectively, the latter being formed with the cross head 35 while the eye 43. is bent'from the slide 34 and the front end of this post 42 is rotatably journaled in a bearing 45 therefor .on the-frame A. The sleeve 4| is carried on the post 42 between the eyes 43 and 44 to be shifted by the slide 34 while the post- 42 is extended rearwardly through the dash 38 in convenient reach ofan' operator of the craft or boat and is fitted with a steering wheel 46 at its rear end for the turning of said post. The post carries a key 41 accommodated in an elongated longitudinally directed slot 48 in the sleeve 4| and in this manner the said sleeve is rotated on the turning of the post'for the rotation of the seg-'- ment 32, the slot 48 limiting the extent of moveing or casing 6| fitted with the forward end 5| pivoted at 52 on the yoke 31in said frame A and this lever 5| has connected thereto a link 53 which is also connected to the cross head 85 of the slide 34 so that the latter can be shifted.- On

identified by suitable indicia such as the letters L and R provided on the dash 38 so that'an operator when throwing the control handle .58 for seating in the selected notch 54 will know with certainty the adjustment of the rudders 24 and 25 for countering'left hand or right hand side drift water or air currents. I

The chassis 23 at the bow end of the craft or boat constitutes a mount for a power shaft 55 being held in suitable bearings 56 connected with said chassis anddisposed crosswise of the latter. This shaft 55 atopposite ends has joined therewith universal knuckles 5'! connecting driven shafts 58 therewith, each being fitted with a Y worm pinion .59 meshing with a worm gear 68.

the pinion and gear being confined within a housof the companion side member l8. This gear 68 is fixed to an axle 62 for a rotatable pontoon 63, being two in number, and are longitudinally journaled in opposite side members N of the frame A. Each pontoon is formed with separated independent air chambers 64 and opposite ends of such pontoon are reversely tapered at 65 while externally on both pontoons are spiral or screw blades 66 so that when the pontoons rotate,

: the craft or boat will be 'driven.

Fixed to the shaft 55 is a power pulley 61 while at opposite sides of the same are loose idle pulleys 88. With these cooperate'the forward and reverse driving belts 69 and I8, respectively, which are trained about the same and alsoabout a pulley 'Il common to both belts and fixed to a shaft 12, the latter being fitted with belt pulleys l3 and 14, respectively, the shaft 12 being fitted in bearings 15 while trained over these pulleys l3 and I4 are belts l6 and 11, respectively, common to pulley wheels 18 and 19, the latter bein formed with a. balance or fiy wheel 88. These pulleys I8 and 19 with the fly wheel 88 are carried by a shaft 8| suitably journaled at 82 in the frame A, the pulley 18 being fixed to saidshaft while the pulley I9 and fly wheel 88 are loose thereon. The shaft 8| has fixed thereto at opposite ends cranks 88, these through yieldable antidead center connections 84 are joined with adjustablepitmans 85 which have connection with a foot treadle 86. The foot treadle 86 is pivotally connected to a swinging handle bar 81 pivoted at 88 for swinging movement so that the shaft 8| can be operated either by footor hand. The pitmans are adjustable through the use of latches 89, these being released by a double foot pedal 98 carried by the treadle 86 and in this manner the telescoped pitmans enabling the stopping of the stroke of the handle bar on releasing the latches 89 with the footpedal 98 without stopping the motion of the propelling mechanism in case of casting fishing rod or shooting duck, etc.

Coacting with the belts 69 and '18 is a belt shifter 9| controlled by actuating levers 92 and aconnecting' rod 93 associated therewith, the latter ing a frame having spaced parallel open side being operated from a throw handle 94 working through the dash 36 in a slot- 95. This slot '95 is formed with keeper notches 96 for accommodating the throw handle to hold it in a shifted position. The notches 96 are identified by suitable indicia such as the letters R and F, respectively, indicative of forward 'or reverse operation of the craft or boat in the driving of the same. The handles 50 and 94, respectively, are in convenient reach of an operator of the craft or boat for convenient manipulation thereof.

The bow and stem ends are suitably cowled or hooded in a streamline manner.

The side members l extend about the pontoons 63 in a manner to relieve the same from obstructions and such side members are of substantially elliptical formation, being formed from tubing or piping.

By adjusting the rudders 24 and 25 in longitudinal alignment with each other, the boat or craft will have a straightway course in a water current as shown in Figure 16 of the drawings as shown by dotted lines and by turning the rudders at an angle to the longitudinal course this will effect an anti-drift operation as shown by full lines in said Figure 16 counter to side currents and by the simultaneous adjustment of the rudders fore and aft of the boat or craft, the latter can be turned sharply and in this manner enables parallel landing of the boat or craft. The anti-dead center connections 84 avoid the stopping of the fly wheel 80 on dead center at either end of the stroke of the pitmans 85.

The pulleys 61 and 68 of the propelling mechv ing a frame having spaced parallel open side anism permit the starting, stopping, forward and reverse drive of the rotation of thepontcons 63 and in the propelling of these pontoons the operation of the craft or boat is practically noiseless. The operator has complete control of the craft or boat under all conditions and the latter can be guided in its course with ease and the guardsconstituted by the side members I0 function as skids when touching bottom, particularly when traveling in shallow water, and also permits of easy landing on a shore when the craft or boat is carried onto the same without any liability of damage to the pontoons. or the spiral or screw blades 66 thereon. i

Located intermediate of the length of the side members l0 are laterally curved combined braces and steps 91 whichenable a person to readily step into the craft or boat from a landing and at the same time avoids damage to the pontoons or the blades or screws thereof as this will eliminate the stepping onto the said pontoons when making exit or entry from and to boat.

The uprights l3 are preferably sectional and are separably joined byset screws 98 and in this manner the canopy l6 with the awnings I! can i be readily removed from the craft or boat.

It is to be understood that the pulley ratio of the propelling mechanism may be changed to permit the use of motive power drive for larger sized crafts.

The screw blades 66, which constitute fins exteriorly on the pontoons 63, are composed of sections and these are interchangeable and replaceable by reason of separable fastening thereof through the use of screws 99 and likewise the pontoons 63 are bulk headed and are sectional being separably united to be watertight through the use of fasteners I00.

What is claimed is:

1. A craft of the character described compristhe craft or members, rotary pontoons joumaled within the open side members, spiral blades on said pontoons and extending throughout the major length thereof, driven mechanismassociated with the frame and having connections with said pontoons for rotation thereof, yieldable anti-dead center connections included in said driven mechanism,

a foot treadle adjustably joined with the 'antidead center connections, a swingable handle bar pivotally supported in the frame and swingably carrying said foot treadle, and latches for the joinder of the foot treadle with the anti-dead center connections.

2. A craft of the character described'comprising a frame having spaced parallel open side members, rotary pontoons journaled within the open side members, spiral blades on said pontoons and extending throughout the major length thereof, driven mechanism associated with the frame and having connections with said pontoons for rotation thereof, yieldable anti-dead center connections included in said drivenmechanism, a foot treadle adjustably joined with theantidead center connections, a swingable handle bar pivotally supported in the frame and swingably carrying said foot treadle, latches for the joinder of the foot treadle with the anti-dead center connections, rudders fore and aft of the frame and centered with each other longitudinally of the latter, and marginally controlled means for the said rudders and operating the same simultaneously in the same directional disposition.

3. A craft of the character described comprismembers, rotary pontoons journaled within the open side members, spiral blades on said pontoons and extending throughout the major length thereof, driven mechanism associated with the frame and having connections with said pontoons for rotation thereof, yieldable anti-dead center connections included in said driven mechanism, a foot treadle adjustably joined with the antidead center connections, a swingable handle bar pivotally supported in the frame and swingably carrying said foot treadle, latches for the joinder of the foot treadle with the anti-dead center connections, rudders fore and aft of the frame and centered with each other longitudinally of the latter, marginally controlled means for the said rudders and operating the same simultaneously in the 'same directional disposition, and

means coacting with the rudders for effecting yieldable tripping action thereof.

4. A craft of the character described comprising a frame having spaced parallel open side members, rotary pontoons journaled within the open side members, spiral blades on said pontoons and extending throughout the major length thereof, driven mechanism associated withthe frame and having connections with said pontoons for rotation thereof, yieldableanti-dead center connections included in said driven mechanism, a foot treadle adjustably joined with the antidead center connections, a. swingable handle bar pivotally supported in the frame and swingably carrying said foot treadle, latches for the joinder of the foot treadle with the anti-dead center connections, rudders fore and aft of the frame and centered with each other longitudinally of the latter, marginally controlled means for the said rudders and operating the same simultaneously in the same directional disposition, means coasting with the rudders for effecting yieldable tripping action thereof, and means associated 4 with the'driven mechanism for regulating the operation thereof.

5. A craft of the character described comprising a frame having spaced parallel open side members, rotary pontoons journaled within the open side members, spiral blades on-said pontoons and extending throughout the major length.

, thereof, driven mechanism associated with the frame and having connections with said pontoons for rotation thereof, yieldable anti-dead center connections included in said driven mechanism, a foot treadle adjustably joined with the antidead center connections, a swingable handle bar pivotally supported in the frame and swingably carrying said foot treadle, latches for the 'joinder of the foot treadle with the anti-dead center connections, rudders fore and aft of the frame and centered with each other longitudinally of themembers, rotary pontoons journaled within the open side members, detachable spiral blades on said pontoons and extending thru the major length thereof, driven mechanism associated with the frame and having connections with said pontoons for rotation thereof, yieldable anti-dead center connections included in said driving mechanism, a foot treadle 'adjustably joined with the anti-dead center connections, a swingable handle bar, pivotally supported in the frame and swin8- aibl'y carrying said foot treadle, latches for the joinder of the foot treadle with the anti-dead {rudders fore and. aft of the frame and centered with each other longitudinally of the latter, marginally controlled means for the said rudders and operating the same simultaneously in the same directional disposition, steering means co-acting with said rudders, said means comprising a steering column, an adjustable gear frame carried by said column, a slidable slotted pinion sleeve movable on said steering column carried by said gear frame and controlled by anonnecting rod, and a bell crank lever attached to said connecting rod, whereby an antidrii't or parallel landing may be effected by said craft while navigating river or tidal currents of water. i

ALONZO P. WELSH. 

